In an August 19 interview with Fox News, Trump was asked if he could "give an assurance that there won't be American boots on the ground in Ukraine protecting that border, even after you're out of office".
"As president, I can assure you of that," Trump replied.
That same day, a White House official confirmed Trump's firm stance against sending troops to Ukraine, but emphasized that the US still has other ways to support Ukraine.
Discussions regarding security commitments are ongoing, and the specifics will continue to be a topic of negotiation between the US, Europe, and Ukraine, according to the official.
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Former US President Donald Trump at a White House event on 8/8. Photo: AP |
Former US President Donald Trump at a White House event on 8/8. Photo: AP
"Foreign leaders want to know what resources Trump will commit to ensure that once a potential peace agreement is reached, Russia won't regroup and take more territory in the future," the official stated.
Trump previously expressed his belief that European countries "will be the first line of defense" against Russia in Ukraine, but the US will participate in regional security efforts.
In the Fox News interview, Trump also commented that the conflict between Ukraine and Russia "should never have happened". "They shouldn't have done it, they shouldn't have gone up against a country 10 times their size," he said.
Trump mentioned the Donbass region, which includes the Donetsk and Lugansk provinces. "They're talking about the Donbass, but Russia controls 79% of it already. So, they understand what that means," he added.
Trump said European leaders expressed concerns to him about whether a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine would hold after he leaves office. According to Trump, this would depend on the next occupant of the White House.
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US soldiers training Ukrainian troops in Germany in 3/2023. Photo: US Army |
US soldiers training Ukrainian troops in Germany in 3/2023. Photo: US Army
Trump also noted that some European leaders don't share his sense of urgency in ending the Russia-Ukraine conflict. One European leader, during a meeting at the White House, suggested meeting again in one or two months.
"He said let's meet in a month or two and see what happens. I said, 'A month or two? 40,000 more people will be dead in a month or two, and you've got to do this tonight.' I did, I called President Putin, and I'm trying to get President Zelensky together," Trump explained.
These comments followed a meeting with the Ukrainian president and European leaders on 18/8, where Trump affirmed continued US support for Ukraine and a desire to prevent civilian casualties.
Trump subsequently announced that he had spoken to Putin and was arranging a summit between the Russian and Ukrainian leaders, as well as a trilateral meeting involving the US.
Nguyen Tien (According to CNN, AFP, AP)
